How to Avoid Black Friday Scams: What Everyone Must Know Before Shopping

The holiday season is the busiest shopping period of the year — and also the busiest season for cybercriminals.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday attract millions of shoppers looking for deals, which creates the perfect opportunity for scammers to deploy fake websites, fraudulent ads, phishing emails, and malicious apps designed to steal personal data, credit card information, or even identity.

At Ascension Global Technology (AGT), we protect enterprises year-round — but during the holidays, we also want to help everyday shoppers stay safe.
Below is a simple, powerful guide to help you avoid the biggest scams during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

🎁 1. Watch Out for “Too Good to Be True” Deals

Scammers know that extreme discounts grab attention.
If you see:
❌ 70% off luxury brands
❌ iPhones or PlayStations far below retail
❌ “Doorbuster” prices with no reviews or legitimacy

…it’s most likely a trap.

AGT Tip: Compare prices across known, reputable retailers. If only one obscure site is offering the deal, avoid it.

📧 2. Beware of Fake Email Promotions and Phishing Texts

During Black Friday week, inboxes are flooded with emails claiming:

• “Your order is delayed — click here”
• “Your payment failed”
• “Exclusive Black Friday access”

These often lead to malicious websites designed to steal login credentials, credit card numbers, or personal data.

How to stay safe:
✔ Always check the sender’s email address
✔ Hover over links before clicking
✔ Never enter your username or password from an email link
✔ Visit the retailer’s real website directly

🛍 3. Avoid Fake Shopping Websites and Counterfeit Stores

Cybercriminals spin up thousands of fake e-commerce websites during Black Friday.
They often look identical to major brands like Amazon, Sephora, Nike, Best Buy, or Apple.

Red flags:

• No “About” or “Contact” page
• Prices significantly lower than competitors
• Misspellings or strange website URLs
• Only one payment method (usually PayPal “Friends & Family” or crypto)

AGT Tip:
Use Google Safe Browsing, TrustedSite, or ScamAdvisor to check if a site is risky.

💳 4. Only Use Secure Payment Methods

During the holidays, scammers love to push people into risky payments.

Safe payment methods:
✔ Credit cards (fraud protection included)
✔ Apple Pay / Google Pay

Risky or dangerous methods:
❌ Wire transfers
❌ Venmo / CashApp / Zelle for purchases
❌ Gift card payments
❌ Crypto payments

No legitimate retailer will demand those.

📱 5. Fake Mobile Apps Are Everywhere During Black Friday

Cybercriminals release thousands of malicious shopping apps designed to:

• Steal your personal info
• Install malware
• Capture credit card details
• Gain access to your phone

AGT Tip:
Download apps ONLY from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and avoid “direct APK downloads” or links from emails/social media.

🔒 6. Strengthen Your Accounts Before You Shop

Since many scams target your existing logins (Amazon, Walmart, Target), protecting your accounts is essential.

Do this BEFORE Black Friday:
✔ Enable two-factor authentication (MFA)
✔ Use strong, unique passwords
✔ Never reuse shopping passwords
✔ Update your phone and browser with the latest security patches

👀 7. Fake Social Media Ads Are the #1 Black Friday Scam

Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are full of fake shop ads, especially for:

• Beauty products
• Electronics
• Pet products
• Designer items

What you see is often NOT what you get — or worse, you may get nothing at all.

AGT Tip:
Before purchasing from any social media ad, search for reviews outside social media.
If the company has zero presence beyond Instagram or TikTok — it’s probably a scam.

🚚 8. Beware of Delivery Scams

This season, expect fake notifications claiming to be from:

• UPS
• USPS
• FedEx
• Amazon Logistics

These messages usually say:
“Your package cannot be delivered. Click here to update your address.”

Clicking will take you to a phishing site.

Protection:
Check tracking directly on the official carrier website — never through a link in a text.

🛡 AGT’s Final Advice: Cyber Hygiene IS Holiday Safety

Cybercriminals thrive during the holidays because shoppers are busy, distracted, and pressured to buy quickly.

But with the right awareness and a few simple precautions, you can protect:
🔐 your money
🔐 your identity
🔐 your devices
🔐 your holiday

Ascension Global Technology is committed to keeping both businesses and individuals safe this season.
Share this post to help protect someone else’s holiday.